NYT: Ex-Illinois Governor Is Indicted on Corruption Charges (updated)

[ProSense]

Ex-Illinois Governor Is Indicted on Corruption Charges

By MONICA DAVEY
Published: April 2, 2009

CHICAGO — Rod R. Blagojevich, this state’s ousted governor, was charged on Thursday with 16 felony counts, among them racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and extortion conspiracy in a wide-ranging scheme to deprive residents of “honest government,” prosecutors said, including trying to leverage his authority to pick someone to fill President Obama’s former Senate seat.

Five of his closest advisers, including his brother, Robert, a top fundraiser, and two former chiefs of staff, were also charged in the 19-count indictment.

Prosecutors said Mr. Blagojevich used numerous elements of his state work — including appointing people to state boards, investing state money and signing legislation — as a way to seek money, campaign contributions and jobs for himself and others.

<...>

The long-anticipated indictment in essence replaced charges made against Mr. Blagojevich when he was arrested last December in what turned out to be the start of the rapid coming apart of his political career. The indictment comes at an awkward time for a city that is desperately trying to shed its reputation for political corruption, and that on Thursday was receiving international officials weighing Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 summer Olympics.

link

Updated to add link to the indictment (PDF)

[JayMusgrove]

1. About 3 months late, but better

later than never.

I hope that guy goes to the big house for many many years.

[DonP]

2. Not just Blago ...

His brother and at least four high level state Dems along with him and that's before any of the others indicted have started to sing to the Feds to cut a deal.

Some of them are "behind the scenes" guys, but you know the GOP is going to start labeling the 2010 ticket for Governor and Senator as Blagoyevich Democrats. It's going to get really ugly around here for the next couple of years.

[RepublicanElephant]

3. ...and chris matthews doing his best to make this an obama scandal. nt

[Cha]

5. Well, that's just stupid..is tweety off his

meds or has he taken too many?

[davsand]

4. WHERE are all the "Its a GOP conspiracy" posters now? The silence is deafening.

All I'm hearing is the chirping of crickets right now. What happened to all those posters who were SO certain that Blago was ill treated and railroaded out of office here in Illinois?

I am glad as hell I will never have to sit on his jury because I think that f**ker is as guilty as it gets. Our IL Dem party worked hard to elect him and he has screwed us all in the interest of his own personal gain.

I hope he rots in jail.


Laura